May 10, 2010

Allied Officers To Discuss Gay Service At Brookings

Palm Center and Brookings host “Lessons Learned from the Service of Gays and Lesbians in Allied Militaries” to help inform Congressional debate and DoD Review

MAY 19: ALLIED MILITARIES TO PARTICIPATE IN CONFERENCE AT BROOKINGS ON THEIR LESSONS LEARNED WITH GAY MILITARY SERVICE
Palm Center and Brookings host “Lessons Learned from the Service of Gays and Lesbians in Allied Militaries” to help inform Congressional debate and DoD Review

While repeal of the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is reviewed by Congress and the Department of Defense, the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Brookings Institution’s 21st Century Defense Initiative will host a forum of military officers and experts from nations allied with the US to discuss how other nations have wrestled with similar policy changes in who is allowed to serve in their military.  The conference on the “Lessons Learned from the Service of Gays and Lesbians in Allied Militaries” will be held at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C on May 19.

The conference will seek to inform the debate over the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by exploring how exactly their militaries transitioned to policies allowing openly gay service and, based on this experience, what applicable insights they might provide to the United States military. A variety of panels will explore the key questions and will detail their nations’ experiences, ranging from ministerial-level perspectives all the way down to tactical unit commanders’ experiences.

WHO:
Dr. Victoria Basham, University of Exeter and York University, Toronto
Commander Luc Cassivi, Canadian Forces
Lieutenant Commander Craig Jones, British Royal Navy (Ret.)
Dr. Danny Kaplan, Israeli Defense Force Reserve Captain, Bar Ilan University, Israel
Lieutenant Colonel Mick King, Australian Army
Colonel Kees Matthijssen, Royal Netherlands Army
Professor Alan Okros, Canadian Forces College, Toronto
Major General Walter Semianiw, Canadian Forces

WHAT:
Lessons Learned from the Service of Gays and Lesbians in Allied Militaries

WHERE:
The Brookings Institute
1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20036

WHEN:
May 19th, 9:30am-4pm

The Palm Center is a think tank at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Since 1998, the Center has been a leader in commissioning and disseminating research in the areas of gender, sexuality, and the military. For more information visit www.palmcenter.ucsb.edu.

The 21st Century Defense Initiative at the Brookings Institution produces cutting-edge research, analysis, and outreach that address some of the most critical issues facing leaders shaping defense policy in the coming century. The initiative focuses on three core issues: the future of war, the future of U.S. defense needs and priorities, and the future of the U.S. defense system. For more information visit: http://www.brookings.edu/projects/21defense.aspx

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